Jasarevic seeks support

Jasarevic seeks support

JAKARTA (JP): A visiting leader from Bosnia-Herzegovina is
calling on Indonesians not to let up on their concern and support
for Moslems in the war-torn Balkans.

Nermina Jasarevic, the secretary-general of the Union of
Women's Association of Bosnia-Herzegovina, is here for a week to
meet Moslem groups and garner support.

"We need full support, not only from Moslems, but other groups
as well, because what's happening in my country is a problem for
the world, for humanity," she told the press yesterday.

"Please continue your support of Bosnia...even a kind word
means a lot for us," said Jasarevic who, since the aggression of
the Serbs four years ago, has lost her father, husband, uncle and
three cousins to the war.

Jasarevic has met with Indonesian Moslem women leaders Tuti
Alawiyah and Ida Farida. She will attend the inauguration of the
Assyafiiyah Moslem University here today and later meet with
Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro.

Jarasevic, traveling alone, is here at the invitation of the
Sidik Foundation, a center for studies and information on
contemporary Islamic worlds. She is also scheduled to speak at
several mass prayers today and over the next several days.

The prayers are expected to draw thousands of Moslems who have
not relented in supporting the Bosnian cause since the onset of
war in the ex-Yugoslavian state.

Last year, for instance, KISDI, a leading Moslem organization
here, signed up more than 10,000 volunteers to go to Bosnia to
fight Serbs and Croats. Along with another organization led by
business tycoon Probosutejo, the organization helped raise
billions of rupiah, which were donated and sent to Bosnia.

After her visit here, Jarasevic is scheduled to fly to Brunei
Darussalam; Istanbul, Turkey; and Barcelona, Spain, to seek
similar support from Moslems there.

The women's organization she leads currently has some 70,000
Bosnian members, many of whom have fallen victim to rape, murder
and other war atrocities. (swe)